Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

SAGER, Carole Bayer

(b 8 March '46, NYC) Singer, songwriter. Began writing at 15 while in high school, a teacher helping to obtain contract with Don Kirshner's Screen Gems; first demo 'Groovy Kind Of Love' co-written with Tony Wein became no. 2 hit USA/UK by the Mindbenders '66. She wrote with other Screen Gems inmates incl. Neil Sedaka, but had more success in the following decade. She was the youngest lyricist to write a Broadway musical with Georgy '70, but it closed after five nights; she spotted backup singer Melissa Manchester (with Bette Midler); they co-wrote 'Midnight Blue' '75 (top ten hit), 'Better Days' (aka 'Looks As Though We're Doing Something Right') '76, 'Come In From The Rain' '76 (hit by Captain and Tennille). Sager wrote with Peter Allen: 'Quiet Please, There's A Lady On Stage' '75 (written for Allen's one-time mother-in- law Judy Garland), 'I'd Rather Leave While I'm In Love' '77 (hit for Rita Coolidge), 'Don't Cry Out Loud' '78 (hit by Manchester); with Albert Hammond: 'When I Need You' '77 (hit for Leo Sayer); with Bruce Roberts: 'You're The Only One' '79 (hit for Dolly Parton); 'You're Moving Out Today' '77 with Roberts and Midler, recorded by both Midler and Sager, incl. in Sager's eponymous debut solo LP on Elektra. With David Wolfert: 'Heartbreaker' '77 (hit for Parton); with film composer Marvin Hamlisch (b 2 June '44, NYC): 'Break It To Me Gently' '77 (hit by Aretha Franklin), 'Better Than Ever' '79 (sung by Candice Bergen in film Starting Over), 'If You Remember Me' '79 (film The Champ), 'Looking Through The Eyes Of Love' '78 (performed by Manchester in film Ice Castles, song nominated for an Oscar), James Bond theme 'Nobody Does It Better' (The Spy Who Loved Me). She made her second LP Too '78 for Elektra; wrote songs with Hamlisch for Neil Simon musical They're Playing Our Song '79, said to be loosely based on their relationship. Co- wrote Oscar-winning theme for film Arthur '81 with Allen, Christopher Cross and Burt Bacharach; married Bacharach '82; they collaborated with Neil Diamond on several songs for his Heartlight LP '82, title song inspired by film ET; they wrote 'That's What Friends Are For' '85 for the team of Dionne Warwick, Elton John, Gladys Knight and Stevie Wonder, proceeds to AIDS research. Her songs have been recorded by Frank Sinatra, Gene Pitney, Eydie Gorme, Steve Lawrence, Astrud Gilberto, Patti LaBelle, etc. Bacharach collaborated on her third LP Sometimes Late At Night '81 on Boardwalk, top 60 album with top 30 single 'Stronger Than Before'. Published novel Extravagant Gestures '86; divorced Bacharach '91.